Falcon 9 successfully deploys Galileo Navigation satellites | Booster achieves record equaling 20th mission.

image credit SpaceX

On April 27, a Falcon 9 rocket got back to its usual but extraordinary routine and deployed a pair of Galileo navigation satellites into orbit. The mission, marked by several unique aspects, unfolded from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A at 8:34 p.m. Eastern.

The two satellites, named Galileo GM25 and FM27, were entrusted to SpaceX for their journey. The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), responsible for Galileo operations, confirmed their successful deployment and subsequent operation in orbit.

What set this launch apart was the veil of secrecy surrounding it—a level typically reserved for classified national security missions. Unlike previous Galileo satellite launches, which received extensive coverage, SpaceX refrained from sharing video footage after stage separation. The webcast concluded promptly after payload fairing separation, leaving further updates to the customer.

Curiously, neither the European Commission nor the European Space Agency (ESA) publicly announced the launch beforehand. European officials, in their post-launch statements, carefully avoided discussing the launch method.

Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the internal market, acknowledged the event on social media: “2 new Galileo satellites successfully launched last night. Awaiting Ariane6, the 2024 launches are crucial for Galileo’s resilience, robustness, and continuity in both civilian and military applications.”

The reason behind choosing the Falcon 9 became clearer through Breton’s statement. Europe faced a “launcher crisis” due to the retirement of the Ariane 5, loss of Soyuz rocket access following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and delays in introducing the Ariane 6. With no indigenous means to launch Galileo satellites, Europe turned to SpaceX.

In November 2023, the European Commission finalized a deal with SpaceX for two Falcon 9 launches, each carrying two Galileo satellites. The contract, valued at 180 million euros ($193 million), secured Europe’s critical space infrastructure.

This Falcon 9 mission marked the second European institutional flight, following the launch of ESA’s Euclid space telescope in July 2023. Later this year, another pair of Galileo satellites will ride a Falcon 9, alongside separate launches for ESA’s EarthCARE Earth science mission and the Hera asteroid mission.

For SpaceX, this launch represented the 20th flight of booster B1060—a milestone tying the reuse record set earlier by another booster which deployed Starlink satellites. Unfortunately, the additional performance required to place the Galileo satellites into medium Earth orbit prevented booster recovery. This ended a remarkable streak of 146 consecutive Falcon 9 launches with successful booster landings, dating back to November 2022.